Cavite Farmers Trained In ‘Lakatan’ Production

MANILA, Philippines - Cavite farmers were trained on the package of technology (POT) for tissue-cultured lakatan banana production recently at the Cavite State University (CvSU).

The Southern Tagalog Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (STARRDEC), the Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPA), Cavite Modern Growers, Inc. (CMGI), and CvSU sponsored the training.

It was held in conjunction with the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development's (PCAARRD) Community-based Science and Technology-based Farm (CBSTBF) Lakatan Banana Project in Cavite.

PCAARD said the training aimed to provide participants knowledge in nurturing lakatan tissue-cultured plantlets into full-grown and healthy banana plants that are capable of producing bigger bunches of quality fruits weighing more than 20 kilos.

Experts from CvSU and OPA lectured the farmers on improved management practices, specifically on banana tissue culture management, nursery and field management, control of pest and diseases, postharvest handling and marketing.

The farmers were also apprised on the status of the banana industry in Cavite.

Magsasaka Siyentista (MS) Eddie Silan told his fellow farmers that by following the recommended POT, a banana farmer in Cavite can produce lakatan bananas comparable to those grown in the Davao Region.

He noted that the POT would also guarantee yields that are similar to those in North Cotabato, Davao Region and South Cotabato.

During the closing program, provincial administrator for external affairs Efren Nazareno, STARRDEC director Edna Vida, and Silan thanked PCAARRD for its sustained technical and financial support to the food production program of Cavite.

Nazareno, who represented Cavite Governor Janvic Remulla, challenged the farmers to use what they have learned to improve their incomes and raise the food output of the province.